Teenager told to steer clear of trouble in future

A young teenager convicted of possession of a Stanley blade at Sligo District Court was told by Judge Kevin Kilrane to stay out of trouble or else he was looking at a life of crime. The judge told the 16-year-old it was disappointing at his young age that he refused to tell the truth and instead denied he discarded the blade when stopped with another youth at Ballast Quay. DETECTIVE Garda David Hannigan told the court he was on patrol in the area on October 1st 2016 at 8:20pm when near McTernan Carpets he spotted two youths wearing dark clothes with their hoods up.

HE turned his patrol car around and pulled alongside them as he said he believed they were acting suspiciously and unusual to see pedestrians in an industrial area.

He said he saw one of the youths discard something and he discovered a Stanley blade wrapped in sellotape, which was produced in court. Mr Tom MacSharry, solicitor (defending), said his client denied the blade was his and that he dropped a cigarette.

He said both youths were heading to Supermacs to get food. Garda Hannigan told the judge that the defendant said he didn’t use blades that he used his fists instead and that he was not raised to use weapons but raised to fight.

Judge Kilrane said the Garda was a very experienced detective and spotted something suspicious on a dark October night. He said the defendant constructed a version of events regarding the cigarette which were not believable.

He said to the youth that using his fists in Sligo or any town means he will come up against worse in the future. “I’m prepared to give you a chance. You’re a young man,” telling him to steer clear of trouble. He applied the Probation Act.